EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Louisville Cardinals held on for a 35-34 win over the Washington Huskies in the 2024 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas on Tuesday.
The game came down to the final drive. Trailing 35-28 in the fourth quarter, Washington freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. connected with Giles Jackson for a touchdown to make it a one-point game, 35-34, with nine seconds left in the game.
Washington then decided to go for two and win the game in regulation. On the two-point attempt, Williams Jr. targeted Jackson once again, but the pass was incomplete and that pretty much sealed the deal for Louisville.
Washington did go for an onside kick but did not regain possession on the attempt.
With the win, Louisville ends its 2024 season with a win and with a 9-4 overall record.
Louisville quarterback Harrison Bailey, who finished the day 16-25 with three touchdown passes, won the Sun Bowl’s C.M. Hendricks Most Valuable Player award. Louisville’s backfield duo of Isaac Brown and Duke Watson combined to rush the ball 28 times for 182 yards.
Washington also had players ball out in Tuesday’s game.
Williams Jr. completed 26 of 32 passes for 374 passing yards in the contest. Williams Jr. threw four touchdown passes. All four of Williams Jr.’s touchdown tosses went to wide receiver Giles Jackson.
In his final game with Washington, Jackson caught 11 passes for 161 receiving yards and had four touchdown catches. His four receiving touchdowns set a Sun Bowl record.
With the loss, Washington ends its first season under the direction of head coach Jedd Fisch with a 6-7 overall record.
Washington is now 1-4 all-time in Sun Bowl. Washington’s last Sun Bowl win came in its first appearance in the bowl game in 1979.
The listed attendance for the 2024 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl game was 40,826.
Read: Read More